203. Queen Katharine of Arragon to Cardinal Bainbridge, English Ambassador in Rome.

[Headed:] “Familiar letter about the affairs of Scotland.” Although the King of Scots promised the Catholic King (Ferdinand) to be a most faithful friend and brother to King Henry, and swore accordingly to the English ambassador, Mr. Doctor Vestri, (fn. 1) who had been with him quite recently; yet notwithstanding, on perceiving that King Henry was waging war on the French, and had determined to send 20,000 men through Normandy under the Earl of Shrewsbury, he (the King of Scots) invaded Berwick, and proclaimed war against England; for which reason three earls and two barons are already on their march towards Scotland, namely the Earl of Surrey, commander-in-chief, the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Derby, the Lord Darcy, the Lord Dacres, and many other captains, with 30,000 men; not only for the defence of Berwick, but also to conquer and annihilate the kingdom of Scotland, according to the fashion in which the Catholic King treated the King of Navarre.

Her consort is so bent on the war against the French, the foes of the Church, that he is determined never to rest or desist until their King be utterly destroyed; having said openly to all hearers a few days previously that he firmly believed that neither the Pope nor his very dear father (King Ferdinand) would ever desert him, though if by any chance they should happen thus to do, yet he would never withdraw from this war until that schismatical sovereign be made an end of. London, 18th September, 1512.

[Copy. Latin.]

Nov. 10. Sanuto Diaries, v. xv. pp. 317,318.

204. Andrea Badoer to the State.

Dated London, 16th October, and received by way of Germany. Nothing of importance. Badoer had merely heard that the ambassador Capello was coming, and that the Emperor had denied him transit; wherefore Badoer had sold his gowns and household furniture, expecting to return home; but on hearing of Capello's detention was compelled to remain. Complains extremely.

205. Andrea Badoer to the State.

Dated 1st October, but not deciphered previously.

Had delivered the Signory's letter for the King, who was much pleased with it. Had conversed with the Bishops of “Glusestre” (sic) and “Durant” (sic, chief lords of the Parliament, one of whom went ambassador to the King of Scotland, who told him the Emperor meant to place Maximilian Sforza in the duchy of Milan, and to restore to him Brescia, Crema, and Bergamo; and the King regretted that the Signory should incur loss. The King (of England) intends to order the fleet and army home, being dissatisfied with the Spaniards, who were intent on conquering Navarre, and not on taking Bayonne.

[Italian.]

Nov. 17. Deliberazioni Senato Secreta, v. xlv. p. 80.

206. The Doge and Senate to the Ambassador at the [Papal] Court.

Acknowledge the receipt of letters of the 12th, stating the goodwill and regard for the Signory's interests, demonstrated by the Cardinal of York in the late negotiations for peace treated at Rome by the Pope and the Cardinal of Gurk.

The Cardinal of York has evinced wisdom, goodness, and integrity. To thank him in the most loving language possible.

Ayes, 141. Noes, 4. Neutrals, 0.

[Italian, 18 lines.]

Nov. 26.DeliberazioniSenato Secreta, v. xlv. p. 80, tergo.

207. The Same to the Same.

To thank the Cardinals of Strigonia and of York, the latter of whom in particular does good service. To request the Cardinal of York to persevere, and not to fail writing to his King about the great injury inflicted on the State.

Ayes, 147. Noes, 23. Neutrals, 1.

[Italian, 50 lines.]

Nov. 26.DeliberazioniSenato Secreta, v. xlv. p. 81.

208. The Doge and Senate to Andrea Badoer, Ambassador in England.

Events have taken place detrimental to the State, and contrary to the articles of the League. The Spanish army, having accomplished the undertaking against Florence, (fn. 2)” crossed the Po without difficulty and marched to the borders of the Brescian territory, for the purpose of disturbing the Venetian camp, which had been for a long while besieging the city of Brescia, and was on the point of taking it, having battered the place during many days in two directions, and the French garrison being without provisions or provender. Although it was intimated to the Spanish commander-in-chief, the Viceroy, that there was no occasion for him to act, yet he advanced, negotiated with the French, and agreed with them to take possession of the city in the name of the League. He promised the garrison safeconduct beyond the Alps for themselves, their arms, horses, and all their effects.

Remonstrances of the Signory against such an arrangement; inexpediency of sending so considerable an amount of men-at-arms and infantry, all veterans, with their equipments into France. Dishonour, cruelty, and wickedness of allowing them to take to France what they have plundered and robbed in Italy, especially at the sack of Ravenna, and twice in the luckless city of Brescia.

Assert that, according to the articles of the League, and the declaration of the Pope in his original brief, and also in the new one, (copies of both of which they transmit,) Brescia was to be surrendered to them. Therefore they made a demand accordingly of the Viceroy, who refused to concede it, saying that he must await the conclusion of the peace between the Signory and the Emperor, which was then in course of negotiation at Rome by the Cardinal of Gurk; and that he had come to take Brescia in the name of the League, to compel the Signory to peace, and on their own terms. Of the truth of this statement the State had practical proof, for on the arrival at Rome on the 3rd instant of the Cardinal of Gurk, they (fn. 3) proposed an agreement to the Signory's ambassadors, based on terms not only iniquitous and harsh, but impossible for the State to accept; protesting that, if it were rejected, Spain would league with the Emperor against Venice; and according to the last advices from Rome in date of the 20th, they (fn. 4) had already drawn up the articles of this new League between the Pope and the Emperor; the Spanish ambassadors not being parties to it.

Although the Pope endeavoured to persuade the English ambassador, the Cardinal of York, to sign this League, the latter not only refused his assent, but strongly dissuaded the measure, as contrary to all right, divine and human, and to the intention of his King. For this are very grateful to the Cardinal, as both in the present instance, and more than once, he has acted as becomingly and prudently as possible. For this he (Badoer) is to return thanks to the King, acquainting him with every thing, and assuring him that the State will always persevere most closely in her alliance with England, and never fail, when possible, to gratify the King, whom he is to inform that the peace now proposed to them would be a great and perpetual war. The allies insisted, moreover, that with the exception of Padua and Treviso, all the rest of the Signory's territory, from the Mincio to Venice, was to be placed in the hands of the Pope and of the King of Spain, as a pledge, at their disposal, with many other exorbitant and unfair clauses, exacting besides a very considerable sum of gold for the investiture, and then an excessive annual tribute. They also insisted that Verona and Vicenza be ceded entirely to the Emperor, in which case the State could neither hold Brescia nor Crema, nor the other towns of Lombardy, from inability to obtain transit, and would thus lose territory and treasury at the same time.

Had offered the Emperor, beside the money and tribute aforesaid, liberal and honourable terms to make a durable peace. This was rejected, and a confederation was formed against them. Such treatment
was not suited to their deserts, because without the gold and army of the Signory, the expulsion of the French from Italy would not have been effected. The case is too hard that their allies should compel them to make peace on worse conditions than when there was no alliance, and the French all powerful in Italy;—conditions indeed, which, when the hostile armies were under Padua and Treviso, the State, nevertheless, scorned and rejected. They wish only for peace and quiet.

He (Badoer) to request the King to support the Signory, both at Rome and in Spain, vigorously, and to condemn the nonobservance towards them of the articles of the League, and the wrong done them. He (Badoer) is also to praise the Cardinal of York for having used his good offices, and to charge him to urge his King to continue holding them as dear and especial friends, and to do what shall seem expedient to his wisdom with the other Christian powers, for the quiet of Italy, and of the Christian religion.

Enclose newsletters from Ragusa for communication to the King, whom he is to inform that danger will be very great indeed, should the present Sultan, (fn. 5) who is young, most hostile to the Christian name, and desirous of war, see Christendom so harassed by dissensions and troubles.

[Italian, 86 lines.]

Footnotes

1. So in Sanuto's transcript. According to Rymer, xiii. 309, it is seen that on the 3rd November 1511, Nicholas West, LL.D., was appointed ambassador to Scotland. See also Ellis's Letters, vol. i. series 1, pp. 64–65.